Holden Comeback Pt. 27

[H. Pedersen]

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After a litany of injuries over several years put his playing career in jeopardy, Stuart Holden is finally returning to the field.

Holden, who was last capped for the US national team in 2013 amid a string of serious knee injuries, has joined the USMNT training camp currently underway in Carson, California.

According to a report from ESPNFC, USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann invited the 30-year-old to the camp that began Monday and is scheduled to run through the first week of February.

The former Houston Dynamo star has not been named to the squad that will play in friendlies against Iceland on Jan. 31 and Canada on Feb. 5.

Holden’s first career setback came in 2011 when he was playing for Bolton Wanderers against Manchester United; he fractured the femur in his left knee and was sidelined for the better part of a year.

He returned to form in 2013, but tore his right ACL with the USMNT in the Gold Cup. In his return match with Bolton’s reserve squad in 2014, he re-injured his knee, with manager Dougie Freedman saying, “Unfortunately, Stuart’s knee has gone.”

Despite those setbacks, and a blossoming career as a broadcaster for ESPN and FOX Sports, Stuart continued to train in an effort to return to the pitch. This winter he trained in California with a group of MLS players that included Benny Feilhaber and Dom Dwyer of Sporting Kansas City, the New York Red Bulls' Sacha Kljestan, Servando Carrasco of Orlando City, the LA Galaxy's AJ DeLaGarza, Hector Jimenez of the Columbus Crew, and D.C. United's Steve Birnbaum.

[Bruce Rioja]

His first career setback was when he was twatted in Newcastle by a Sunderland supporter. Anyway, he's no more our player now than Lionel Messi is, though I wish he was.

Jonny Evans does deserve to die though!

[TANGODANCER]

The lad's had a real career of misfortune through no fault of his own. Good luck to him and hope he makes it back at some level.

[midlands exile]

Good luck to the guy, many players would have given up long ago. Looking at our nosedive ever since he got injured is testimony to how critical a player he was for us during his time here.

I remember watching that shortlived comeback against Villa, and he was still a class above the rest of the team - one pass in particular was to a one-footed donkey (can't remember who), but he'd aimed it to their good foot and weighted it so perfectly that it made them look like they had the touch of Messi.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

More likely to play for us than is Medo.

[H. Pedersen]

Jonny Evans does deserve to die though!

[officer_dibble]

Whilst the downward spiral began with little sam you can arguably point to jonny evans 'doing' stu as the edge of the cliff. Stu getting injured = elmander in midfield at wembley = coyle being exposed as a chancer = relegation = current doooooom.

Fck you Jonny Evans. When I meet you, I will stab my hb pencil through your eye.

[H. Pedersen]

Whilst the downward spiral began with little sam you can arguably point to jonny evans 'doing' stu as the edge of the cliff. Stu getting injured = elmander in midfield at wembley = coyle being exposed as a chancer = relegation = current doooooom.

Fck you Jonny Evans. When I meet you, I will stab my hb pencil through your eye.

The Sounders play a similar 4-4-2 system. We also have a Holden type player, Osvaldo Alonso, who covers the entire field and links defense and attack. When he gets hurt, we suck.

You'd think our coach would have learned from Coyle's lack of a plan B.

[Hoboh]

His first career setback was when he was twatted in Newcastle by a Sunderland supporter. Anyway, he's no more our player now than Lionel Messi is, though I wish he was.

Jonny Evans does deserve to die though!

Harsh!

Chucked into the bogside mid seventies with an atheist card round his neck would have been more apt, probably lost both kneecaps!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Interesting piece on Stu here. He has an open offer to do pre-season training with Houston Dynamo, who still own his MLS rights and are now coached (if such is the right word) by a Mr O. Coyle. But he's also keeping busy with other stuff, and seems savvy - and popular - enough to make a go of a life after boot-wearing.

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[LeverEnd]

I wouldn't have thought the Championship is the place for someone with his fragilty. Hope he gets a crack at it in the MLS.

[officer_dibble]

I wouldn't have thought the Championship is the place for someone with his fragilty. Hope he gets a crack at it in the MLS.

Agreed. He'll shit league one on one leg mind. Sign him on!

[Bijou Bob]

Blimey, Americans seem to believe the femur is a bone in the knee. No wonder they couldn't repair him properly!

[H. Pedersen]

I wouldn't have thought the Championship is the place for someone with his fragilty. Hope he gets a crack at it in the MLS.

MLS is still largely populated by center backs who came up through the college system, where the top 3 priorities are size, strength, and speed and "timing a tackle" is maybe 14th. MLS referees are also god awful. I'd fear for his life over here.

[jimbo]

Blimey, Americans seem to believe the femur is a bone in the knee. No wonder they couldn't repair him properly!

Is it not?

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Blimey, Americans seem to believe the femur is a bone in the knee. No wonder they couldn't repair him properly!

Is it not?

Of course it is. Don't worry, anatomical knowledge eh!? The Welsh are notorious from not knowing their humerus from their femur. (pssst Bobo, it's that top bone in the leg that forms the top half of that esoteric joint called the knee).

[twilight]

Blimey, Americans seem to believe the femur is a bone in the knee. No wonder they couldn't repair him properly!

Is it not?

Of course it is. Don't worry, anatomical knowledge eh!? The Welsh are notorious from not knowing their humerus from their femur. (pssst Bobo, it's that top bone in the leg that forms the top half of that esoteric joint called the knee).

Psssst.....It wasn't Bobo and I don't think Bob's Welsh?

[bobo the clown]

Boo bloody isn't Welsh. Thank you very much.

But he does know his culus from his cubitus.

[LeverEnd]

Bob is not welsh.
And the femur is definitely part of the knee.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Oh dear.